What Happens in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths?

[@MagicArcanum]

Hello everyone, and thanks for stopping by to learn the story behind the cards in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths! I just wanted to answer a few of the more commonly asked questions- 1. "It's clearly General Kudro in Heartless Act, look at the crystal on his shoulder!" Ok this isn't a question but it has come up several times now and I am personally not convinced it's the General because if you look at General's Enforcer and even Drannith Healer you'll see a lot of their uniforms have the same crystal in the same spot, so I don't think we can conclusively say Act shows Kudro. But even so, why not just...show his face? Why make it look like it could have been anyone instead of showing that it was definitely him rather than make it seem like he was there commentating on events? 2. "Could The Wanderer or Narset be the one messing with the Ozolith?" Highly unlikely. Neither would have much reason to antagonize the people of the plane. Narset was there to learn about the three color groupings of mana, which is similar to her home of Tarkir, and the Wanderer was just passing through which is why she only appears on a single card. The voice that comes from the Ozolith also speaks nothing like we've heard either of them talk in the past. It sounds closest to Oko but even that might be a stretch. I remain hopeful it is a new character, as nice as it would be to have a reason to explain the presence of Narset and Wanderer as cards in the set. 3. "Why is Lukka red? He seems more black." We've seen the curse of the Chain Veil add black to Garruk's identity, so it's not unreasonable that the Ozolith also acts as a dark influence on Lukka. As for why his card is only red, they have to balance the needs of the set (and standard as a whole) across the identity of the character. You could argue Lukka is full Mardu (that's red, black, and white) much like Jirina, but I am fine with them keeping his card just red if that's what works best in the overall design file. 3b. "Yeah but why is he RED?" Well, in some ways, Lukka is the most impulsive and action-oriented character in the story. He is easily influenced by events around him. He wants to chase down and kill a dinosaur without thinking about it, until the more calm and steady Vivien talks him out of it. Overall his tactics for fighting monsters are "ambush, then attack" which is almost an exclusively red way of fighting. He is also driven by passion (though you wouldn't see this in the cards) since most of his story is about getting home to the woman he loves, all of which give him big points for a red color identity, at least at his base. I suspect the next time we see him he'll be Red/Black though (even if that color space is overlapping with Angrath.) 4. "Did they really just copy How to Train your Dragon / Attack on Titan?" Well if you subscribe to the idea that there are only "so many different types of stories" then everything is a retelling of something else, but yes, this one does feel especially similar to two other somewhat popular franchises. This is extra odd to me because the source material was supposed to be Godzilla and monster films, and I see very little of those influences here at all. (Would expect something more like nature 'correcting' the mistakes of misguided scientists, for example.) 5. "Why has the Magic story gotten so dumb / Why would anyone follow this trainwreck / Magic has a story? LOL" Yeah it's cool to rip on something, I get it. But at the end of the day, I do think WotC and their story teams ARE trying. It is important that Magic have a story, because that helps people form connections between the cards, and flavor is a huge part of what makes this game WORK. "I move permanent 6178 to attack, it will reduce your point pool by 4 if you do not offer an intercept permanent" is boring compared to "I attack with my Glorybringer and he's going to deal four damage to your FACE if you don't BLOCK!" Overall I remain optimistic for the Magic story. I think they are venturing into new ground, with things like an MMO and Netflix show in the future. These are going to test the story in new and exciting ways, and while the comics have not turned out great (and the ebooks have been so-so, aside from Children of the Nameless) they haven't yet made any truly terrible missteps. This summer's Core Set should give us a bit of a breather, and then the return to Zendikar in the fall has a lot of opportunity to be the turning point for lore, once again. I can only tell you that in the mean time...you should "like" this video and subscribe to the channel so you don't miss the great stories that you'll only find here on Magic Arcanum! :-)

[@t.estable3856]

What do you think of Nahiri being the influence? Lithomancy is right up her alley, and several of the nightmares in the cards have a very "Eldrazi" look to them.

[@nathanfriedman7367]

I think it's in the book that Kudro killed the cat

[@DragonlevelX]

I think the difference between Vivians spirit dino and her other spirit creatures is that they came from her home plane and came with the bow and the dino was added when she was on Ixalan. I think it is the only instance they showed in a story that she can add creatures to her arsanal and thats why he looks diffrent.

[@Mattress1996]

If you take an additional look, you can see the smaller crystals lined on his arm that only match with Kudro. As well as the unique cape that drapes over the right shoulder, is identical to the Kudro cape. You can also see his moustache if you zoom in on the heartless act card.

[@neminem233]

I think this might overtake ravnica as my favorite plane I don''t think i've seen anything like this before in a peice of media, the aethetics are amazing, the biomes aere *chef's kiss* there are so many opportunities to write your own characters, mutate is such a flavorful mechanic, NARSET IS THERE for some reason IT HAS ULTIMATUMS. AND A HYBRID MYTHIC. AND MUCH MORE FOCUS ON ENEMIED COLORS AND WEDGES THAN TARKIR TO DREAM Overall, I love this plane in general, and im excited to write some fanfiction involving Lutri and Lurrus teaming up or a monster becoming a planeswalker!

[@DTHMACHINEGaming]

Ryan is escaping Covid-19 by recording in the Blind Eternities

[@monkeytime3169]

He's even wearing colorless mana

[@jiralishu]

@@monkeytime3169 it's not colorless, it's (2/W)

[@Audiot4pe]

Are you saying that he might just be eldrazi!?

[@shaden489]

i feel like the people designing the cards and the person writing the book never really communicated together much and i find that a bit irritating

[@alexanderforbes1452]

I can't remember where I heard it, but someone from wizards said that the people writing the books don't have much contact with the people designing the cards, so it's hard to blame either group for failing to line things up, the issue is with wizards not coordinating the two.

[@shaden489]

@@alexanderforbes1452 oh for sure it just baffles me that a company as big as wizards cant seem to coordinate this properly at all

[@Alessandro-vv2fh]

Wouldn't it be better to wait one month or two after release of the set (since people who do care about the lore and would buy the book, would buy it regardless on the date it would came out) to put out a better book if they are this much scared about card leaks? Or, the other way around, wait until they have an almost finalized book to write the flavor text for cards? It's mind-boggling.

[@amarmehta01]

Throne of Eldraine’s story lined up very well with the cards...for the most part.

[@jabreezy7454]

Maro has talked about this on his blog a couple times. The problem isn't that the departments are kept from communicating. The problem is that writing a book and creating a set work on vastly different timelines/deadlines. Cards change many times throughout the design process and at some points it's also too late to change much. So all they can do is give the author a rough guideline of the story beats and give them the freedom to create their own story and then hope things match up as well as possible in the end.

[@100aegir]

Cards and Website: Lukka is a guard turned bonder that makes a close bond with a tiger that gets outcast and then leads the bonders in vengeance when the tiger is executed by the general he formerly followed and respected. Vivien supports him throughout. Book: Lukka is a power hungry psychopath that views monsters/animals only as tools to be used for the benefit of city/himself and ends up leading an attack on the city with a bunch of enslaved monsters being mainly stopped by Vivien and other bonders who for some reason side with the side that banished them. Lukka has no connection with the tiger to the point of his fiancé caring more about the tiger's death. Trailer: Vivien picks a fight with Obosh, the Preypiercer along with Lukka's tiger (maybe it's a different one?) and after killing Obosh some crystals glow red and Obosh rises up again. Also an out of place pop song plays and maybe Godzilla planeswalked to Ikoria near end of the trailer. Conclusion: Communication is key to a group project.

[@nickniehaus1763]

Yo JS Obosh ain’t no bitch, he wouldn’t go down like that.

[@lordspider3958]

Your Godzilla line killed me 🤣

[@Dracobyte]

Looks like Alternate realities converged on the same plane.

[@benpearson49]

If anyone remembers Highlander: Endgame, same sort of thing. It was almost like the trailer was for a completely different movie.

[@AnimeProfilePicture]

CoughWarofTheSparksCough

[@Summer_Snows]

Really missing the days when the story was handled in-house by people who could cross-reference the story with the cards and vice versa Mutate not being a part of the story is a massive, disappointing (but unfortunately not surprising) failure in the story-card cohesion

[@TheSPARTANusm]

Anything for $$$$$, right?

[@Scortch-lo3xy]

@@TheSPARTANusm what does $$$$$ have to do with a lack of communications?

[@TheSPARTANusm]

Scortch 2000 lol everything about WotC is about $$$$$.

[@Scortch-lo3xy]

@@TheSPARTANusm you haven't answered the question

[@TheSPARTANusm]

Scortch 2000 yeah..I did. WotC is all about $$$$$ and not making half the shit they do make any sense.

[@edgarlim21]

Ryan Gomez as General Kudro for MTG live action movie

[@bryankopkin6869]

edgar lim i was thinking this during the entire video im glad someone else saw it lmao

[@Will_Morand]

I saw some suggestions for The Wanderer where she appears on a single card each set as a Where’s Waldo style thing for fun, and you know she’s in the story if she gets a planeswalker card.

[@Pistolsatsean]

Will Morand That is actually kinda fun

[@ther3aper561]

Apparently her story card is just her popping in for a second since she can hardly control her planeswalking

[@koichidignitythief7429]

so Fblthp 2.0?

[@Dracinard]

It'd be thematic, too! She can't control her planeswalking, so she pops in to all these different planes for an instant - that'd be cool.

[@michaelnaramore9310]

Plot twist it's because she is now setting up her own plans to cure herself of her afflictions

[@anlize3422]

The fact they left the apex monster off the story is distressing. You have MYTHS about those suckers and they don't get even a passing glance? If I could put my own twist on this, I would link all the crystals with an apex and then with the Ozolith to make the story reach all of Ikoria.

[@ВолодимирМайко-п7р]

great idea! i am frustrated about apexes too. They seemed like a centre of Ikoria! Wizards shitted themself with new set's story again...

[@medramonmasquedecendres2966]

Agreed, i remember when i first joined the game and the community, it was the tarkir Block and EACH of the legendary creatures was adressed in a short story, fleshing out the world and the peoples, i miss this kind of writting

[@zenixtricking4504]

Same

[@mgabrielpla]

That's what you could imagine seeing the cards of the set!

[@agustinmendez3563]

i love how Jirina shares colors with his father but adds red, denoting passion and love where kudro is just white and black, cruelty and law.

[@PremPnamNam]

Agustin Mendez His father?

[@abrahamrokhsar9119]

Also, red is Lukka's Color

[@Commander_Skullblade]

Really, It's a mix of General Kudro and Lukka.

[@akumacode]

that was one of my favorite things too

[@agustinmendez3563]

@@PremPnamNam jarina is general kudros daughter

[@ExandShadow]

The fact that Lukka sees his tiger as a friend in the cards and as a tool in the book is one of the weirder things for me. When I was looking at the preview cards, I thought Lukka was fighting Drannith in order to avenge the tiger and protect the other monsters, which is nowhere near what happens in the book.

[@KingBobXVI]

"When I was looking at the preview cards" Check the video Spice8Rack did for his preview cards - his version of the story based on just those is much better imo, if non-canon.

[@danielbakergill]

When he posts about an upcoming post and posts the post. What a provider. Keep up the good work of making a notoriously inaccessible product more available to the proles like me.

[@TheLanach]

It really feels like they had some plot points printed on the cards that got cut from the book. Like Lukka's bonding with the winged cat. In most cards that show them together you can see that Lukka has painted stripes on his face, mimicking those of the cat, the same way all bonders do with their monsters. I was really disapointed when Jirina had a more emotional response to the cat's death than Lukka did.

[@altromonte15]

It seems to me each group had a very vague outline of the story with the major elements (lukka, monsters, attacking the city, bonders) and each group did their own thing with little to no dialogue with the others. This isn't some difference that you can explain with plots being cut or added, the story and the cards are basically two entirely different stories.

[@donnylurch4207]

@@altromonte15 That's so frustrating! I tend to favor the cards as what's most canon within the game, and the cards give me the impressions that Kudro is a well-meaning, but brutal leader so set in his ways that he will never hear anything of peace between man and monster, to the point he'd banish his best soldier for even suggesting otherwise. Meanwhile, a counterculture of bonders are realizing their potential for harmonizing with the creatures of the wild, but they're being oppressed by Kudro's regime because they're viewed as a ticking time bomb. I like the idea that there is more weight to Kudro's point of view and that Lukka isn't ultimately the most correct, and will even do bad things to prove his point just like Kudro does, but the cards don't give me that impression at all.

[@kanebravo953]

@@donnylurch4207 Kudro sacrifices two humans to kill one big creature. That is not a good guy, that is a man obsessed with his goal and refusing to listen to any dissenting opinion.

[@rewt3406]

@@donnylurch4207 From the cards, it seems like a completely different thought process. The card for Lukka does not paint him in any negative light. The book was more or less a possible way of "pulling the rug out from under us" but I feel that this story almost had little impact. Complex characters are built over time, and I feel that as Lukka continues on his journey he might fight with the "good guys" but for now he's got no motovations. Also, throughout this journey, Lukka was painted as a man with compassion and an ability to grow with the animal he bonded with. The cards paint this better than the book, and there's almost no way of knowing what happens or why it happens. Why have the cat monster die and it only impact someone else? Lukka was growing as a character learning to love those around him and treat them better. So, as far as I know, a severed "bond" should had been reason enough for Lukka to go in for revenge on the General. Not try and continue proving his worth, that shows unwarranted devolution of character growth. More or less, he just stays stagnant through the whole book and that's uninteresting until the end where its almost like a coin-flip decided he'd go mad with power. And, what caused this? More or less, it was Lukka's obsession to get back into a city he didn't even like. When there was no bond between Lukka himself and the cat monster (unnamed) then why should we care that it died? If the story really wanted Lukka to go down a trail of power hunger, they should had taken creative liberties and had him kill the cat monster the moment he had a chance. The cards tell a completely different story, where Lukka and Nash (I'll give the cat a name for the sake of it) grow a bond and train so that they can face and bond with other monsters. Through his travels, he learns to treat Nash with more love and respect rather than a tool, only for Nash to be taken and killed when he started to grow close. Heartbroken and now wanting to gather stronger monsters for power, Lukka becomes the power hungry madman that the book was trying to give us. It's simple. It's easy. It's probably been done before. But, its effective. A good story will have you grow an attachment to a character before killing them off. Whether its because they were good or bad, you have to follow the simple story book narrative. The rising action is Lukka's choices he's made over the course of his adventure. Not thoughts, but his actions. Lukka can think a certain way, but never replaced Nash even if the cat monster was just a tool. He didn't kill it, he trained with it, and even entrusted his love's life to be saved by Nash. These are the rising actions. It's pointing towards him being something greater. The only problem is, Lukka never had a change in thought or a motivation to have a battle in his home. His home was what he wanted to protect. It had his idol and general that he wished to impress. And, it has his lover who also still (or possibly still) loves him back. This is the stories introduction: Kind and brave soldier befriends cat monster and is thrown out of the palace. The stories initial rise: Lukka finds that a mysterious stone is causing the monsters to attack humans. The rising action: Lukka and the cat monster journey to the crystal, alongside Vivian learning of other humans who bond with beasts. The peak/climax: Lukka finds the stone, and sends the cat monster to save his lover. The falling action: The cat monster saves the lover, and gets unfairly killed. The conclusion: Lukka tries to impress the General with a battle of monsters, and during the battle wants more power. The end of the story: Lukka is alone and seeks to return to his home to... defend it?

[@onfrolicker9317]

I think it’s really interesting that the past 3 sets have been centered around developing a planeswalker and having them planeswalk away, lukka, will and rowen, calix, I feel like that isn’t just a coincidence.

[@_zz.123_]

And Oko

[@Dracinard]

Gatewatch 2.0? I mean, I hope not. But a gathering of all these new planeswalkers in a later set? I'd be up for that.

[@onfrolicker9317]

L Edwards I doubt it’s gatewatch 2.0, I think wizards isn’t *that* blind to what people want but I definitely think that’s why these sets are hanging around planeswalkers so much, for some further plot theme

[@donb7519]

@@onfrolicker9317 i would argue its almost certainly gatewatch 2.0 up against oko probably companies dont tend to learn their lesson unless theyre really losing money and wotc definitely isnt

[@onfrolicker9317]

Don B yeah I mean maybe, they’re definitely slacking on fulfilling stories or listening to customers but it’s definitely likely that they’ll just be lazy and say screw it gatewatch 2.0

[@szentekkel]

to me it kinda feels like the cards tell the story from the point of view of someone that wasn't there and heard the story later, and now is retelling it, I mean the fact that bonders are everywhere kinda makes it look like it, at the end of the story they are permitted into parts of the city and it's like if someone telling that Lukka really liked the cat and was actually a traitor (in their point of view you know that he really wanted to be with the monsters, he even gas markings showing the cats pattern on his face) also, on merciless act it is the general, see the crystals on the clothes are insignias, look at the crystal on the shoulder in merciless act and on General Kudro's card

[@hunterthorne4671]

I think youre giving them too much credit XD

[@toastghost9145]

Whether or not this actually happened, I'm perfectly content with this headcanon.

[@szentekkel]

@@hunterthorne4671 oh no, I don't think it was on purpose at all, just making sense of it all

[@gabrielamaro1470]

A problem that has been highlighted in recent sets is that the departments at WOTC seem to have a huge problem in communicating with each other. I couldn't explain these discrepancies between the cards and the stories any other way.

[@KingBobXVI]

That's what happens when you fire your entire in-house story team...

[@_traximundar_3165]

KingBobXIV oh damn, were they actually fired?

[@KingBobXVI]

@@_traximundar_3165 - fired or let go, not sure on the specifics but they're no longer there. You can probably find more on their respective Twitter profiles.

[@jaredtiller884]

The fact that the story is so disjointed in various mediums and they mostly conflict is not what I wanted after children of the nameless. I was hoping that they learned from the Greg Weissman fiasco. I had high hopes that were mostly dashed. My hypothesis is that the abolition of the block format forced them to rush the stories

[@innarrixl6753]

Sigh, I'm still mad they pulled children of the nameless from online and are going to try to sell it in part of a collection.

[@U.Inferno]

@@innarrixl6753 It's been 2 months but I got the PDF of the story if you want it

[@Dracobyte]

What hapoened with Greg Weismann?

[@donb7519]

@@Dracobyte he wrote the shitty war of the spark books because he was rushed and given only basic details

[@Dracobyte]

@@donb7519 oh wow...

[@Pers0n97]

To me Ikoria is the perfect example of what the removal of Cycles from MTG is doing to their world building. One uppon a time each set had a base edition that helped to establish the setting, than 2 expansion to flesh out both its gameplay and narrative. Ikoria needed that. A base set focused on exploring the setting, and then a couple of expansion focused on Luka's quest for power.

[@maernouts]

I wish you and Spice 8 Rack were in charge of the magic story.

[@ВолодимирМайко-п7р]

amen

[@k.ebartlett1830]

spicy boy would do such a good story

[@ArtPatron25]

I feel that his April fools short story told a cohesive story that accurately reflected the cards while also adding world building. I have not read the book myself, but outside of Lukka being a part of an elite squad and being in love with the General's daughter I dont know any other personality traits or history. I feel they could have set up his heel turn a little better, sow animosity between Kudro and Lukka before he becomes a bonder.

[@GreatgoatonFire]

@@ArtPatron25 Lukka and Kudro getting along until the cat incident makes sense imho. Kudro seems to be a dictator so him allowing his daugher to marry someone he didn't approve of seems unlikely.

[@Imagifiction]

Dude, your ikoria sounds dope. Like a full-on godzilla boss battle

[@cointoss4825]

the art and flavor text from tentative bond makes me feel like lukka is a nice guy. heck, look at the story summary at 5:13. it makes it sound like they care for each other. does the book really not have any of that? what a disconnect. thx for the video btw! p.s. i wish i had a giant flying cat. i'd name him Batcat, and we would fly around during the day and cuddle at night because he would be a good boy.

[@GreatgoatonFire]

Yeah, Tentative Bond shows a Much more likeable version of Lukka. Such a sweet moment.

[@maggiedean5691]

Luka should be black/red or a spilt red and black. He wants power. He gets it by any means necessary. This dude is bad.

[@coad_mtg3866]

I think he will be splashing both black and white as secondary

[@maggiedean5691]

@@coad_mtg3866 I could see white. Order and all. No one, but vivain and his fiance seem like good people though. The leader not even giving him a shot to talk, and this dude. This dude is a mad lad.

[@Commander_Skullblade]

I think Lukka will end up becoming the evil he sought to destroy.

[@simplemaddness]

Ehh shaky at best, the relationship between red and black mana isn't always cut and dry and that description seems like a complete leaning on the black side of things.

[@maggiedean5691]

@@simplemaddness I still don't think red is his only color. An argument could be made for black or white.

[@wildmuskrat5986]

No one: Lukka: I should rally a giant force of monsters to impress General Kudro despite the fact that he hates bonders, thinks they’re evil and more dangerous then monsters by themselves.

[@timanglin6199]

WELCOME TO MAGIC ARCANUM! I’M SO FREAKING PUMPED!

[@keenanevans7888]

Lil baby Chris, is that you?

[@theundergrad5994]

Keenan Evans hahaha

[@v.mgonsalez5654]

To me looks like Wizards gave some writer the basic concepts like: "We want Luka, Vivian and this cat. And that's it." and some view of cards art. That's how this story was made. Ah, and some months later, after the book was ended, they get back with: "also, we need Narset, please"

[@TehPhuzzy]

STORY TIME!!!!!!!! The audio is greatly improved. The cuts to cards and text is super helpful as well. You should be proud of the overall quality, it only improves the story telling and that is the main reason for me being here - I'd be watching even if you were still recording in the storage unit. Glad you aren't though. (:

[@ShawnSansonetti]

I had to like this just on the mustache minute. There were a couple zingers in there. Honestly I don't know how you can keep these stories straight but you do a fantastic job. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@joshuablack3163]

For this channel, I always like before watching. I already know that I'll like it. Why wait?

[@MagicArcanum]

This is the correct attitude.

[@matheuslisboa9369]

The story is told by the cards, the book, the notes on the website, and the trailer... and somehow none of them match at all. Theros didn't have a book but at least the trailer matched the cards. I feel like they don't even care about there being a story at all. Edit: Seriously, what was going on in the trailer, with the crystals glowing red and bringing monsters back to life while mutating them?

[@impendio]

It gets worse everytime you question anything

[@katsudonsilver8281]

This went differently than i thought it would

[@endermeap6488]

To me, the story is told by the cards first, then the trailers, then the website, then finally the books, with a massive jump between the cards and everything else.

[@vaivs7903]

I think the monster mutated on its own and the crystal simply reacted to it. And yes, this set's story was a mess. I think the problem here is that Wizards does not deem the story too important. As a result set and story match poorly, the fans complain and wizards sees its assumption confirmed and focuses even less on the story.

[@marcomesturino1775]

The conflict was WEDGED in there. Boom. Wedge theme explained. Ryan 1-0 Wizards

[@MagicArcanum]

Hey-oh!

[@marcomesturino1775]

@@MagicArcanum If you did it on purpose I'm gonna lose it 😍

[@MagicArcanum]

galaxy_brain.jpg

[@connerlajoie3142]

Hey Ryan! just wanted to mention that if you look at the full art of the card Heartless act, it is General Kudro wielding the sword. that kills the flying cat. It is really difficult to see his face on the card but the full art reveals it. Hope this helps a bit!

[@Intreductor]

Good old Narset, following Ojutai's teachings by...buying books xD

[@ty_sylicus]

26:47 That statement aged well.

[@gabrielvega1713]

Lukka wouldn't get hish wish from Snapdax, he's just the vicious hunter. He'd get it from Illuna the one that grants wishes

[@brianstiles1701]

"I can't wait to play Companion and break everyone of those suckers." -Me, a year later: O O F

[@mynameisyourname4684]

I thank you for giving the summary of this big story because as I was too lazy to read it myself.

[@vaivs7903]

14:12 Actually in the book it's described that Lukka spreads his forces around the city, looking for the least fortified gate, which he then has the monsters overrun.

[@trotskyeraumpicareta4178]

I really loved the cards from this set and they make me feel like I know the plane already... So I prefer to just keep with the idea they created in my mind of the plane than reading the story, now that I know they differ this way from the cards. Like I am just a visitor planeswalker who managed to see the plane and its elements but not any major event that happened in it.

[@brodeeo]

"If it was oko messing with the plane, all of the monsters would be 3/3 elk by now". That was savage.

[@chaloux9419]

i feel like tezzeret is the one messing with the thing. i mean the wanderer was hunting him but idk if she knows hes alive or thinks hes dead. Tbh im just trying to think of a way the wanderer was on a card

[@ItsAstridEh]

The Wanderer has no control over where she goes, so she could very possibly just happen to be on whatever plane we're on each set.

[@tymandude1510]

It sounds very much like Oko's MO not Tezzeret's.

[@nathanfriedman7367]

@@tymandude1510 If it was Oko he would have just turned Ozolith into an elk.

[@TheDrTwix]

The way you take a story and making a video out of it is truly amazing! Thank you for the amazing video!

[@danieljackson2700]

I would just like to take a moment to recognize the unofficial Magic card version of Ryan in Chevill, Bane of Monsters. That man hands out some mustache minutes.

[@MagicArcanum]

Much prefer that to being compared to General Kudro lol

[@vaivs7903]

They should make Ryan into a commander who focuses on mustache tribal.

[@danieljackson2700]

@@MagicArcanum I'm not certain on your opinions on Commander but here is a fun deck I've been durdling around with for the past few weeks. archidekt.com/decks/580685#Chevill_Controlotron.

[@Wildivlax]

So we got a new three-color walker, which is an incredibly rare and exciting thing, because she was buying her self-quarantine timesink? Beautiful ludonarration, WotC, beautiful

[@mega2009man]

Pulling threads from different sources...sounds like usual MTG story. Thanks for setting us straight, this was a ridiculous indifference between the two, more so than other stories. Many wasted opportunities to the point that I can't enjoy the story anymore and this was WAY too far gone to grab my lore love. The worst part of this set is that we never got a card for Lukka's beautiful and awesome cat, she was so amazing, even had an amazing design...Kudro deserved death for killing her and it showed his daughter as the true good guy of the story. Too bad she didn't get much

[@davidbrasher3595]

I thought Patagia Tiger was the card for Lukka's cat.

[@mega2009man]

@@davidbrasher3595 They're not even the same design, they look nothing alike, sure probably same species but not the same character 😕 A Legendary Creature card, heck one that partners/companions with a Lukka card I was hoping for

[@yarrrthekraken]

YO. The audio and video for this are on point!!! This is so exciting!

[@Dracinard]

Honestly, I'd prefer if they did a bit more with Vivien, she seems a very standard good green planeswalker in this. Maybe Vivien was a corrupting influence on Lukka, causing him to hate Drannith. Or maybe she sees how far Lukka goes on his quest for revenge and that convinces her into giving up her own quest for revenge - which she definitely has and hasn't just... forgotten? Maybe she wants to rebuild Skalla on Ikoria, using the mutative powers of the Ozalith and the spirits in her bow, Idk. I think there's a lot of great set up for Vivien, and she could be the next Vraska if some of her plotlines are properly explored... buuuut WOTC doesn't seem interested in doing that.

[@corhydrae3238]

I'm pretty sure that wotc themselves don't know what to do with her. The first mistake was not giving her a bigger role in war of the spark. The whole reason she exists in the first place was to have a planeswalker that is majorly pissed about Nicol Bolas. Having her just kinda help out in defeating him alongside two dozen other characters while Chad takes all the glory feels really anticlimactic. Not like she's any worse off than all the other characters. Wizards doesn't seem to know what to do with basically all of their characters, while also constantly creating more new planeswalkers to just... exist.

[@otiss1487]

Something to watch during the lock down! Thanks Ryan!

[@and_also_aaron3372]

I really miss 3-set blocks. They gave us Vorthos's a healthy amount of story to digest. Single set blocks have to condense so much, and it never feels very appetizing.

[@vaivs7903]

I think a good example of that was Tarkir. How the altered timeline reflected in the cards was pure genius.

[@joaquinbaang5667]

If they ever make a mtg series on netflix, I think ikoria should be an anthology just different stories focusing on the people and animals of the plane. Personally I would want a episode where Chevil bane of monsters tries to hunt brokkos the apex of the forever

[@Wommyo]

I feel like magic story has been slightly bored since it stopped being on the mothership

[@TheGreatDeliveryBoy]

Honestly, I care more about the setting than the story itself. The setting is super cool and fleshed out, with the different triomes and the types of monsters that live in them, as well as the different human strongholds in each and the unique cultures they produce. I really hope WotC turns Ikoria into a D&D setting with a full book like they did with Ravnica and Theros, with the core focus being the behemoths. Then we could make any story we want out of this awesome setting.

[@arieltkotz4877]

I wished the used Lukka and Jirina as protagonists. His story being the same, but in the second half focusing on Jirina realizing both her father's and Lukka's way are wrong and allying with Vivien and the bonders to defend the city from Lukka, while her father just want to kill every monster... As for the thing I'm most eager to play is a rUG Voltron with mutate...

[@GardenVarietyTroll]

Some of your Best work so far Ryan, and the baseline was already set quite high. Props!

[@kylesavage4525]

STory time finally!!

[@PaulOkon1981]

Maybe I brushed through the part too quickly but the Ozolith being surrounded by nightmare creatures and the way the crystal was talking to Lukka seems like Ashiok was behind it.

[@vibinivan52]

Ryan kind of looks like General Kudro...

[@spellartificer]

When they started talking about bonders in Ikoria it gave me a Pokemon vibe and now that you explained the story, holy cow this is Pokemon: The Set

[@Yentz4]

I actually liked the book, and thought it was a lot more interesting than the sappy stuff they showed on the cards. I do agree that Lukka's personality could have used a bit more development, and his train of logic was just so...idiotic. I'm fine with the Apex creatures not being in the book. They are after all, legends, Monsters people talk about existing, but rarely if ever see.

[@Lockon9573]

Thanks Loremage. Your frustrations are justified. I appreciate the effort of your team.

[@halimlorette2742]

TLDR: Wizards story department needs to get their shit together.

[@ivanmadariaga4857]

I was hyped for this video! Thank you for making this content! :)

[@yanivllevi4097]

soo wizard watched AOT and said YEAHHHHH and thats ikoria well kinda

[@Commander_Skullblade]

First ripping off Avengers Endgame, and now Attack on Titan? What's next, Harry Potter? Oh, right. Tolaria is Hogwarts.

[@coastaltownie708]

@@Commander_Skullblade To be fair, Tolaria predates Harry Potter

[@Commander_Skullblade]

@@coastaltownie708 Damn, you're right. Didn't think about that at all.

[@RogueJuanGaming015]

I think it's more like Monster Hunter World.

[@Commander_Skullblade]

@@RogueJuanGaming015 Think about it. Humans in a city are hiding from giant monsters that can tear down the walls and end humanity.

[@nicolastracz3793]

Great video. I've been looking forward for this one. Thanks for the link to the story too:-D. 1) I'm surprised that they didn't get Kiora here, since monsters from other planes is also her thing. Although I can understand why they might have chosen Vivien over her. 2) Not mentioning any of the apexes seems like a missed opportunity. 3) Despite item 1, I kind of hope that they don't include another story relevant green planeswalker on the next set. 4) I'm looking forward to playing with Narset, any companion card, and the mutate mechanic.

[@huyvuminh1048]

Both the Story and Set of this era of magic, feel incredibly rushed. It's shame really I fell in love with MTG just recently (Amonkhet), because of it's lore, good game design. And now I'm full of doubt.

[@Nelsonfungus3]

I think they feel rushed because we’re only on each plane for one set, which is much faster than 3 or even 2 sets to explore an entire plane

[@endermeap6488]

I agree, I miss spending 2 or 3 sets on the same plane. I liked the natural progression of story exploration in the first one, then conflict in the second/third.

[@huyvuminh1048]

@@endermeap6488 I can see that structure work for Ikoria. First set is all about Big Boiz (the Behemoth part) attacking the city and the bonders show up to help, while slowly build up Luka and have some spare scene times for Narset. The second and the third set will focus on Luka and Human vs Bonders Narrative

[@koichidignitythief7429]

@@endermeap6488 The problem is that usually, the 3rd set ends up having the worst cards: Dragon's Maze, Saviors of Kamigawa, Avacyn Restored, Eventide, Journey to Nyx. I can also guess it's to keep the sustainability of a franchise that's been going for 30 years.

[@KixieBoo]

I'm the same. I got into magic for the first time during Amonkhet when my boyfriend took me to a two headed giant event. Since then I've felt similarly, falling in and out of magic a couple times because of the story and stuff.

[@Kona_AJ]

and here I was, about to start my school work. Thanks as always for uploading such long content and for being you! Guess I can spend a little time with the loremage to start my day!

[@flyingninjamimejr]

The trailer didnt do this set justice at all. Also I wish it had more dragons but I guess big apex dragons are more of Tarkir’s thing

[@matheuscastello6554]

i'm well aware i'm almost two years late, but i still wanted to leave a comment, first to thank you for all these videos, they are such a nice way to share all this information about the story, that sometimes is hard to process in other means, i'm horrible at reading, and having a friendly figure like you explain the story and nitpick it when it calls for it, makes it so much more enjoyable to me than reading a book could ever be! i've been trying to get back into mtg (mostly for cedh) but of course, the worldbuilding of the planes and all that is always interesting, and so is the story to a lesser extent, i thought eldraine would be a good starting point seeing it was after the war of the spark, but theros beyond death, well... yeah, and after watching your videos on ikoria and eldraine i've been incredibly underwhelmed by the lack of cohesion between the cards and the story, as well as the shallow worldbuilding, and the thousands of missed worldbuilding opportunities in either set. not to mention theros beyond death, theros is my favorite plane, as it came out right after i started playing, and the full pantheon of 15 gods and the greek mythology inspiration made me absolutely fall in love with it, but seeing the return to theros be a failure in so many aspects but especially so in the almost absolute lack of worldbuilding and story, that stung a lot. so i'm really happy i decided to pick kaldheim as my entry point, and watch your videos for these three sets (and i'll do so for zendikar rising next, as well, of course!). fingers crossed the story is compelling enough to keep my goldfish attention span interesting (i've heard the kaldheim story is much more interesting than that of the previous 4 sets, and the norse inspiration absolutely does help!) and if it isn't for me still, i'd be very glad to watch your videos instead (and of course, if i do enjoy it all and am able to survive reading kaldheim and the next sets' stories, i will absolutely check out the videos still, so see if i missed something and hear your thoughts!). all in all, thank you so much for doing these, and doing so very entertainingly! cheers :)

[@gael_le_cruel]

And no mention of the mighty new Almighty Brushwagg ?? I'm disappointed :'(

[@Skelatard]

You make the Story way more interesting and well written then it actually is. I appreciate that you have the patience to summarize it.

[@rabidadder3635]

This story feels so disjointed. I’m amazed that the book and the cards are so misaligned, even more than War of the Spark, and I have to wonder if the shift from in-house articles to external writers is to blame. I loved the magic story prior to War of the Spark but since then it seems to have been going downhill.

[@maksymb8498]

It is very good to hear stories from you to understand what happened during this set ;) Thank you a lot.

[@TheAmazingSpiderman87]

So why even watermark the so called "story cards" if the two sides won't even collaborate with each other? Plus I'm glad to see the virus hasn't claimed the manliest of moustaches.

[@drpretzel2086]

Trying to Piece that story together would drive me nuts the same story story three different versions from the cards and websites. Props to you sir for being able to handle that kind of tomfoolery.

[@diSTUD013]

Every time a new set comes out I want to read the book and then I watch these videos and find out that they are not that good for one reason or another... *sigh

[@jerradmarsan2220]

If Lukka cared for that cat, it would've been a legendary card. lol

[@DavidOConnor44]

Dope ass shirt!!

[@scomae5445]

We need the return of the block format... It's impossible to get the story in one set, look at the three Ravnica blocks, you have the typical story structure and it works GREAT!

[@bdellovibrioo5242]

Vivien Reid is a Michelle Rodriguez role if I ever saw one in my life.

[@H1nted]

Narset is my favourite character i was hyped seeing her card but bummed knowing that she is only there to do homework

[@briochebrioche8976]

I find absolutly insane that the guys who write the story and the authors of the books almost never communicate. It was the same thing with War of the Spark, and it really makes me want to stop playing Magic. When I see how much effort is put into the story and its accessibility in League of Legends for example, I can't help but feel deeply disappointed. We know it's possible to make good and consistent story, yet we just don't get it.

[@antiday]

Exactly. And considering storytelling is sth Mtg prides itself on, it is quite inexcusable. I've observed and sincerely hated this sort of tcg-novel disconnect since the Onslaught block, and it baffles me why it happens. The only reason tt makes sense for Ikoria's case (as one of the commentators has explained) is that the story couldve been written a long time, and the cards were made or revised only recently. Thus, it would be too late to revise the novel's plot. Still, Wotc could still have paid the author his due fees but chosen NOT to publish the book, or if they rly needed to get a book out, end the deal, pay the guy, and do it with another author.

[@SuperUltraDevin]

The new set up looks so much better Ryan!

[@cosmicentitydragon2946]

So we don’t even find out why Narset was even on the plain? Also I speculate that maybe there is a slight chance it was Kiora messing with the ozilith to try and control an army of sea creatures but somehow messed up, just a theory.

[@kionashi]

there is even a sea in Ikoria?

[@averymoody4001]

Dark Machines I read on MTG’s website that Narset found a connection between Tarkir and Ikoria, and is using Ikoria as a plane to meditate on after the events on Ravnica and connect with its mana and inhabitants for future reasons to return to Tarkir.

[@cosmicentitydragon2946]

kionashi yes, some of the cards mention a monstrous creature walking around and that’s what created the different biomes and it eventually disappeared into the sea, as far as I can remember

[@DeepCDiva]

Man, i kept waiting for the Apexes to show up. With the way Lukka was set on weaponizing the beasts, I thought he would bond with at least one and then Vivian would get the help of another for a KAIJU BATTLE but nope. Hell even showing up in the final battle, just something, anything to have more fun with the giant creative monsters of the set but... Nothing? Super weird decision to me. Still, really good video! Hope we get the Stone Octopus the next time we visit Ikoria.

[@atragonx7939]

Editors cost money, man, and the story doesn't help sell cards.

[@grmreaper204]

Hearing the part about lukka’s spark igniting explains his being in strixhaven so much more now

[@adeladekoza6558]

They really should of made some kind of energy “collar” or some aesthetic connection to lukka on the cards bonding/controlling monsters. It would set up this idea of him making slaves of the animals and the villain aspect of the character. I’m interested to see Garruks reaction to Lukas method of utilizing animals as weapons. I’m suspecting some kind of connection to Arlan cord. Specifically him controlling her while she is in wolf form/ having a greater sway over her mind.

[@hungrywampa7080]

Heartless Act is showing Kudro himself. Look at the pauldron, it matches his pauldron from his own card.

[@liammcvittie7955]

Love the channel! I never read the books i just watch your videos

[@ronbelleza5588]

Wow! the video quality improved so much!

[@bobrokrot0111]

Mutate was actually mentioned it the book. I believe at some point there was a conversation about how monsters grow wings, horns, spikes etc over time. They didn't explicitly use the word 'mutate' though. And it's actually understandble, like why would humans ever see monsters mutate? They only see them for a couple of minutes which end in either of them being dead. Although the mutate mechanic makes an impression that monster mutate very rapidly.

[@MagicArcanum]

Yeah growing new features over time felt more like natural developments or maybe evolutions. I didn't get the impression that horns were bursting out of monster's heads mid-battle, like the cards seem to suggest. Especially when you look at the WotC write-up alongside the Ozolith, where Vivien is able to see mutations happen in real time, apparently.

[@timhenrickson9653]

Thanks for doing these Ryan! Top 3 I found that I could potentially use: Vivien, Monsters' Advocate Narset of the Ancient Way Winota, Joiner of Forces I am also going to get Jirina's commander deck

[@ricomarez7834]

I like how you included the movie character casting picks

[@jameshudson4104]

12:18 thats the general, notice the large green crystal on his shoulder, the general's main callsign

[@MagicArcanum]

I'm not convinced. Even Drannith Healer has very similar crystals. Kudro only has his on one side, but so does General's Enforcer, and it's the same side. So I think those crystals are too present to be attributed to just General Kudro for this card.

[@pvtpain66k]

I vote for the Ozolith to have been corrupted by Sarkhan while he was "the Mad". If everything can mutate, and dragons are clearly the best animal ever... Everything's coming up Dragons for Sarkhan, baby!

[@michaelsteelman5395]

I’m so glad you mentioned the wanderer

[@tobiasazpia]

I love how your Ikoria is basically the "Let them fight" scene from Godzilla haha. However, my ideal Ikoria would somehow keep the "Whos the real monster" theme, not sure how would I executed better though.

[@JohnnyBsKillz115]

Did not see this in my subs box... very glad i checked the channel!

[@timzoat]

The story I'd like to see on Ikoria contains Rielle the Everwise, all the Mythos and Apexes, Lavabrink and a bonder as a main character that really cares about his monster and helps it evolving, getting stronger and fighting others like Pokemon trainers do. Even a commune of bonders anywhere would be great to see and how they defend against evil hunters. Or maybe or main character is a black alligned hunter, who then sees the power of being a bonder but also learns something about the value of life. Maybe we'll get this one day, or I'll write it instead XD

[@ms.aelanwyr.ilaicos]

Yeah, the old short-story format, a la Theros block, would have captured this world well.

[@DETHofMAN]

This just highlights again how good the Ixalan story was and how great and fun a plane and set that was.

[@LuisMunoz-pd7py]

Awesome as always Ryan... Hey, why theres no video explaining the history of commanders? See, i never knew Ghired was an exile an why he was exiled if i never bought the commander precon. Do a video of that, please. Greetings from Nicaragua

[@MagicArcanum]

That's an interesting idea for a topic. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@LuisMunoz-pd7py]

@@MagicArcanum Thanks to you for doing this videos buddy. Always loved the history and lore of Magic. Keep doing great vídeos, ill be eager to watch you 👍👍👍👍

[@Pikmaniac_le_vrai]

The little segment about Lavabrink was hilarious to me. The guys in Drannith are just jealous they didn't think of the volcano first.